Monthly Archives: April 2015

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Nerve Block Relief to Debilitating head pain

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Saturday April 25th: Still feeling very functional today from the nerve block.  Four days now and they said it could last up to a week. But since I had a rough night last night I laid low today, so I stayed in bed just to prevent the head pain from escalating.

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Sunday April 26th: another functional day.  We even went to Sam’s club to with friends and eat lunch.  Gideon’s favorite place to eat.  It was so nice to get out of the house and do something with friends…it had been so long.  Gideon was whipped on our way home:

 

I think Gideon was also glad to be home as well.  He loved being at Grandma’s but there really no place like home in your own bed.

Monday April 27th: My first day home alone and again very low head pain.  I attempted a couple of mundane tasks today; laundry and balancing the check book, but it wasn’t long before my head pain increased.  But a functional day none the less.

Tuesday April 28th: And another functional, low head pain…this sure has been wonderful.  Today I made my first attempt at doing taxes and then I made dinner for the first time in 14 weeks.  Pain never went above a 3!!  Good day!  And here is a random picture of my medicine basket.  Half of them are ones that I have tried and the other half are ones that I am currently taking:

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Wednesday April 29th: I have been so fortunate with the nerve block actually lasting for this long.  I woke with a very low head pain.  I spent the day organizing files and then worked on taxes.  I was doing a fair amount of bending over with the file organization and that lead to a head pain spike but only to a 3.  I believe that stress is also adding to the head pain: money, taxes, becoming functional again, the rental house, a law suit, selling the house, oh yah and we decided to get the old house resided to boot.  We are working on getting our rental ready to sell and by we I mean Dan. We would to get the house sided and would like 2 more estimates. Does anyone know a reliable crew that could do an estimate?

In addition to all April 29thof this stuff that I have going on with my head…our renters left us high and dry with a house that was a disaster.  So in the middle of this Dan has been trying to get over there as much as he can to fix things and what not.  And I have begun compiling a small claim
s law suit against the renters and we have decided to sell the house…but it will take quite some time to get it market ready.  Oh yah not to mention what was going on at work, short term disability and all the paperwork that had to be continuously filled out.

Thursday April 30th: I still got to wake up with hardly any head pain at all which was wonderful.  Most of the day the pain remained at bay and I felt great.

I actually made lunch for myself today.  I made ham and cheese roll ups with a little ranch. A favorite in our house really. Anything on a tortilla works for me and then some days I just eat cereal if my headache is bad.

When Dan and the kids got home we all went for a walk down the road.  Which I vastly overestimated the distance that I could go.  I was almost in an asthma attack and then the head pain spiked really bad and I was completely down and in bed for the rest of the night.  But we got a couple of lovely pictures from our awesome walk!

April 30th 2

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Facebook conversation with my Migraine friend Carrie’s mom Ruthanne:

Ruthanne Manger Ovenhouse:
How are you doing Heather ?
Heather Loose Johnson: When I don’t exert any energy I seem to be functional. As soon as I do things like putting away clothes and going for a walk the headache goes from manageable to severe quickly. Other than that I am enjoying my family time. I have a spray that I can use on my temples that knocks my headache down instantly for temporary relief.  How is Carrie?
Ruthanne Manger Ovenhouse:  Glad you are having some progress, however slow – I know you must still be so frustrated! She should be released tomorrow am. Nerve block has given her some relief – May last a week, a month or a year. I’m praying for a year
Heather Loose Johnson: Yes praying for the longer the better.

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Heading Home

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Gideon and I are on our way home after 6 weeks being gone. Looking forward to my own bed for sure but i am going to miss my nice dark room and all the help that my mom and dad have given me. I am so grateful. Gideon is going to miss riding his bike and going for long bike rides with papa. He is also going to miss playing with the ice cream playdoh set and playing games with grandma. He has had so much fun with his grandparents. He is also going to miss his cousin Login Loose and massages and movies and wrestling. I too am going to miss Login and the massages that he gave me when my headaches were at their worst and gave me such relief. So while we are excited to go home we will miss our family in Midland.

I started the morning out with very little head pain.  However with the drive home, picking up Josiah from school and doing garage saling I was done for the day.  Head pain spiked to a 4 quickly.  So I took a Toradol shot, did the spray and went right to bed.  Still lots of jaw pain and my forearm is still hurting.  But I am HOME and I am so excited to see my boys, see Dan and am very excited to sleep in my own bed.

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April 25th boys

 

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Nerve Block Temporary Success

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Had a great day! The steroids from the nerve block really calmed the headache down. And then today I got my numbing spray for the nerves/trigger point. My mom Sherry Dunne Weaver and I had quite a time figuring it out but we got it. But both the steroid combined with the spray and I got. To be functional today. I hope the steroid lasts longer than they anticipate because I it so wonderful to be functional.

However, some of the meds are leaving it difficult to concentrate or think very. Always side effects. But we went to Walgreens and 1 garage sale this morning and then out to dinner to at the restaurant where Login Loose made some rockin nachos. And at the end of the night still a low level headache. I am going to be so bummed when steroids wear off. But will enjoy my time of relief.

I have been so very thankful for my parents taking us in and for taking care of us!

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A really funny meme to brighten my day and yours…especially since this is the 100th post I wrote.

April 24th

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MHNI Apt #2

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I called into the dr yesterday with the worsening vision and jaw pain and some word loss. So I met with my neurologist today. After going over all my meds and making a few adjustments we discussed what over the past 3 months had given me any relief. My only response was the narcotic Nubain that they allowed me to take for some relief. It took the pain completely away for about 7 hours.

And then talked about the trigger point that the physical therapist found and sprayed Ethyl Chloride on and the headache went completely away for a short time but reduced for several hours.

So he decided to do a nerve block in those trigger points the headache went completely away as long as the lidocaine wore off it started to get worse but has eased up again this evening.

But my friends and family, we might be getting closer to root cause behind the headache and it is a nerve issue. Next step is to monitor how the steroids are doing and do another nerve block at my temples/trigger points in a month. If that works they will discuss and attempt to kill the nerve to hopefully get full or at least some relief. They would just have to get the right nerve. But it would resolve the jaw pain blurred vision and headache as I understand it. This might be to much to believe in but for today I have hope. And for that, today I am grateful.

Meds: He is slowly ‘ up the dose of Lyrica to see if I can get more of a full effect.  Stopped the Norflex as an abortive and made it into a preventative every day medication.and added Zanaflex as an abortive.  Also recommended B12 shots.

Comments from FB:

Shanon Smith: Great news. Will continue to pray for you!
Michelle Govitz: Great news! Still praying each day
Joy DeSimpelaere: Prayers they find it soon!
Shannen Rowe Dubose: Excellent news.
Kristen Long: That is good news Heather. Glad to hear you had some relief and forward progress is being made
Natara Loose: Are they 100% sure it’s not MS? Since it runs in our family? I take it you already got an MRI and CT SCAN and spinal fluid analysis? Just looking out for you cuz
Dawn Tomlin: This is a hopeful break through! All in Gods timing!! I will continue to pray for the smallest things and relief!!!
Heather Loose Johnson: Yep they did all those tests plus like 50 others it felt like. I let them know I had MS in my history. There were some spots on my MRI but they were pretty certain the spots were caused by the headache/migraine. I will have a follow up MRI in 4 months to be sure because there was a slight chance it was autoimmune. So they are keeping an eye on that.
Heather Loose Johnson: Two of the spinal taps lead to spinal headaches both times that lead to a total of 3 blood patches. Sucky. But I will bring it up again. The clinic treating me had not yet received the scans. Good reminder I need to call the hospital to get a move on the medical records. My mind pretty much sucks.
John Silverstone:  At least it sound like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Still Praying
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Really Bad Day

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Today is one of the bad days. They suck. I stay in my room. Don’t feel like eating and just lay there wishing this would all just go away already knowing that they have not figured out the cause which makes it extremely difficult to treat.

Mindy Richmond : Sorry babe. Really hate that this is happening to you and wishing I could make it all go away. Praying still and sending virtual hugs your wa
Shanon Smith: So sorry to hear this! I hope they figure it out soon!
John Silverstone: Still praying and hoping they find something soon.
Merry Dunne Blades: I would love to kick someone in the butt, but not sure who. Thank you so much for the beautiful story about the rescued horse going to his rescuers Wedding. That made my day. Wish there was something that would make yours. Love, Hugs, & Prayers.
Dianne Clone: Love & prayers dear friend
Shannon Rogers: So sorry sweetheart. You are such a trooper. Prayers still going up for you…
Heather Loose Johnson: Thank you all for the prayers they carried me through the day. I was also visited by a retired sweet Pastor. I was brought to tears by him praying over and for me that it reminded me that on those days I can’t seem to turn to God because of grief that I know others have been going to God on my behalf. And for that I am ever so grateful.
Carrie McHugh David: I feel your pain.
Kathy Smith: Prayers for you, my friend. So sorry you have to go through this.
Fay Johnson: So sorry you have to go through this, I hope they find something soon. Your in our prayer.

It is comments like these that made the really bad days a little bit better, knowing that so  many were praying for me and thinking about me.

At least during the days where I can’t leave my room, Login is there to entertain Gideon…and Grandma and Grandpa are loving on him and taking care of him.  And I know that Josiah and Dan are making their way through.

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Hair remains highlighted and styled

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I can’t believe how great my highlights and color have stayed. I had my hair done in January. Especially the reds. Ever so grateful for my awesome stylist Meaghan. If you are looking for a Spa experience check out Salon130 in Mason and give Meaghan McKouen Cooley a call to set up an apt for hair and If you are looking for a nail artist check out Mao Kue Nails also at @Salon130.

April 20th hair

I need to lean on this more.

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First Garage Sale of the Year

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Today I accomplished something big for me. I went to several garage sales. It was so liberating. I got a bunch of clothes that will fit me right now. No exercise of any kind not even normal walking around does a number on ones body. And while it was wonderful getting out of the house, there is a downside; the daily persistent headache/migraine doesn’t tend to like all the commotion. So the second half of the day was bringing down the head pain. But it was so worth it. Most of you know how much I love to garage sale.

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I got a really cool stool for a couple of bucks and a flip out matte that Gideon was already laying on that night 🙂

The daily persistent headache/migraine is still ever present. All day every day. It only becomes truly debilitating when I overdue something. I am able to use heated rice bags to give temporary relief when I need it. I also have a few meds that I can take to try and reduce the headache some because I cannot take any pain relievers. My vision has become more and more effected, the stuff far away is becoming more and more blurry. Hopefully with the headache gone someday the vision will restore. Just a few things from my dr apts yesterday. they decided some physical therapy on my neck might be helpful. The physical therapist also showed my how to stand from a sitting position to minimize my back pain. Also how to climb stairs. Simple things with amazing results. She also found two trigger point that made my headache instantly worse and then she sprayed a lidocaine spray on that reduced my headache to nothing for about 5 minutes. It actually kept it below my baseline every day headache for a few hours. It was awesome!! And I can get a prescription for it smile emoticon. I was given some good advice about entering back into large groups like church and bible study. I started to learn some biofeedback but the darn computer was acting up but at Least I was introduced to it. The PA I met with was pretty sure I had thrush but it’s hard to say because it isn’t getting any worse. I am going to give my new med for my headaches a few weeks to work. The next apt will be with the neurologist, physical therapist and psychologist (to learn more about biofeedback) in a month.

Michelle Govitz: My goodness Heather, I’m praying this pain is completely relieved for you! I can not imagine going through all that you have been. You do seem to have a very positive attitude which is great for you and shows others who are struggling with their own type of pain that one can face it with dignity and faith in God ♡
Heather Johnson:Thanks Michelle Govitz. Not every day is so positive. But I do love a good garage sale smile emoticon. But seriously my docs have my depression and anxiety under control otherwise I would never have been able to go to a sale or a restaurant or pretty much leave the house. It also helps that my parents Sherry and Bob Weaver have been so unbelievably supportive and have kept me from burrowing into my bed every day. Gideon cheerful nature and all those praying for me all together have kept my spirits mostly positive.
Michelle Govitz: I can imagine there are days that aren’t very positive! ! I have chronic depression so I know how hard those not so positive days can be you just always seem to slip some good news in with all this mess you’re dealing with. That’s fantastic! I see so many who just…sort of give up and become the illness. Keep fighting and we will keep praying.
Kathy Smith: My heart aches for you, Heather. Prayers continue.